Tuesday, January 7, 2014

ret·ro·spect ˈretrəˌspekt/ noun noun: retrospect; plural noun: retrospects 1. a survey or review of a past course of events or period of time.

Yes, I went in to get a definition of the word retrospect-I thought I remembered what it meant and I did! This book was definitely aptly named! The world as it is known in the year 3324 is very small--there are only two countries left. The rest of the world was annihilated by massive wars, etc. One group of these peoples is highly advanced scientifically and are able to send people back in time. These people (who can only be very small women) are called retrospecters. When the more war like peoples take over a resistance is formed and the country and most of the beauty is ruined. This story is about the what happens to that girl and how she does eventually go back to find out the truth about who killed their leader and ultimately heal herself. This is a who dun it with quite a few twists and turns which will definitely keep you guessing--and I did not guess!! Oh well-this book did make me think of how easy it would be to destroy this earth and I am sitting here hoping that it never happens--I did enjoy reading this book.

About the Book: (from Amazon)

In Retrospect is a good old-fashioned whodunit set in a compelling post-apocalyptic future.

Former elite operative Merit Rafi suffered during her imprisonment at the end of a devastating war, but the ultimate torment is being forced to investigate a murder she would gladly have committed herself.

In the year 3324 the Rasakans have attacked the technologically superior Oku. The war is a stalemate until the Oku commander, General Zane, abruptly surrenders. Merit, a staunch member of the Oku resistance, fights on, but she and her comrades are soon captured. An uneasy peace ensues, but the Rasakans conspire to gain control of the prized Oku time-travel technology.

When Zane is murdered, the Rasakans exert control over Merit, the last person on Earth capable of Forensic Retrospection.

Ellen Larson's first science-fiction novel, Measure of the Universe, won the
following accolades:

*"More entertaining than much serious SF, but more intelligent than the usual light reading...cleverly weaves mystery, romance, and wordplay into a twenty-first century tale of a crusty paleographer from Earth and an exuberantly verbal alien, who takes on a Prometheus-like role in Earth's history." -Laura Blackwell, Strange Horizons 2003

Her mystery series featuring newswoman Natalie Joday was praised as follows:

*"Sturdy prose and diverting subplots..." -Library Journal 2001

*"Larson knows her way around newspapers and around Bergen County. The sense of place is flawless." -New Jersey Star Ledger 2001

These days, Larson is a successful freelance developmental editor, working primarily with fiction. Among her clients is Poisoned Pen Press, the Arizona mystery publisher. In 2004, the first book she worked on for Poisoned Pen Press won the Ben Franklin award for best first mystery novel and the second was shortlisted for a Shamus award for best first mystery novel.

Beginning in 1971, when Larson's first short story was published in Yankee Magazine, her short stories and essays have regularly appeared in print and electronic markets. In 1999, Larson's literary short story, "Bridges and Trees" was published by gowanusbooks.com and took fifth place in the Preditors and Editors Award for Best Short Story. In 2007, an original mystery, "Partners," was published by Amazon Shorts.

In 1989, Larson left her 100 acre horse farm in upstate New York and headed overseas in search of adventure. In 1991 she landed in Cairo, Egypt, where she worked as a language editor and publications consultant, working in the field of economic development for NGOs such as USAID, CGIAR, and the World Bank.

Larson returned home in 2005--home being an antique trailer situated deep in the woods of her beloved farm. Her writing, whether mainstream, mystery, or science fiction, borrows heavily from the themes of classical mythology and features heroic protagonists who experience fast-paced adventures and testing situations that are never ever black and white. Larson holds a BA in English from Windham College and an MA in Humanities from California State University. She enjoys winning at bridge and losing at tennis. She is fifty-five.

Good for you for actually taking the time to look the word up! I used to teach high school English, and my students often found it to be a completely foreign concept to look up words with which they were not familiar. ;) I am a fan of both sci-fi and mysteries, so this book sounds great for me.

I never thought Sci-Fi books were my thing, but I've read a few this past year and really seem to enjoy them. I will have to think about adding this one into the reading mix as well. Thanks for the review!